JINHA

NEWS CENTER - Clashes are continuing in the Şemdinli district of Hakkari province as police try to close trenches in the streets, while soldiers have bombed a PKK graveyard in Varto.

The district of Şemdinli, located in the Hakkari province in Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey), has been under the control of HPG guerrillas (linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK) and local self-defense forces for days now. Clashes began again with the first light of day today as police and soldiers try to close trenches at the entrance to the town. Guerrillas and self-defense volunteers have fired on the police and soldiers and the sounds of explosions are audible in the area. Soldiers have also prevented citizens from accessing the village of Şapatan (called Altınsu in Turkish), where four civilians have been wounded in bombings.

In the Varto district of Muş province, soldiers began attacking a rural area home to the graveyard of fallen PKK fighters as well as to many villages. Tanks have been bombing the graveyard area from the ground and Cobra helicopters from the air. Helicopters have opened fire on the nearby villages of Badina, Baska, Kolan, Çasan, Badan and Gulîge. Police special operations teams have entered the villages, conducting house raids and arresting at least one. Soldiers have set fire to forests in the area. Police are preventing any entry into the Varto district.

(gc/cm)